Beekeepers in Australia are being told to breed healthier bees to protect themselves from a colony killing pest.

Australia is the last country free of the deadly Varroa mite that spreads a virus capable of wiping out honey production.

Dr Jay Evans from the United States Department of Agriculture, says if this country wants to protect the honey industry it needs to act now.

"So there can be selection for resistance to the virus now, even prior to the arrival of mites and that may actually give a buffer of healthy bees in the unfortunate event that mites actually become established in Australia" he said.

The Varroa mite is the leading cause of colony destruction in America and poses a significant threat to Australian honey production.

Dr Evans says that while Australia is currently free of the pest, it is well placed to start acting on the available research.

“There is a background of research that could take this line of research quite well.

“Initially it would start as we’ve done to test the local stock and see if there is variation in resistance.

“At that point it would be a matter of identifying the cause of that variation and seeing if it’s a trait that could be pushed into a population by breeding”.

Dr Evans is currently working with commercial beekeepers in America to find the exact traits that allow bees to tolerate the virus spread through the mite.

“Beekeepers are very eager.

“They are using a range of chemicals against the mites now and other treatments to reduce mites but they are very keen to have a better control method for the disease caused by these mites.”